Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PIERCETON - Whitko Middle School students will be able to grow greenhouse plants next spring thanks to the hard work of some of their peers.
In a report to the Whitko School Board Monday, teacher/adviser Laura Thong-Umphai described how 24 members of the school's Clean World Association built two greenhouses as a summer school enrichment project.
CWA is an after-school organization that provides students with humanitarian or environmental activities that enhance the community.
The students researched types of greenhouses, choosing what they thought best fit the area and the organization's needs, Thong-Umphai said.
Settling on two plastic greenhouses that were 8-1/2-feet by 14-feet, the students, with some adult supervision and advice, leveled the ground, shoveled in seven tons of gravel and built the greenhouse frameworks, tables and potting boxes.
According to one of the students that helped, the group learned that "with a lot of teamwork, you can turn a pile of wood and a pile of pipes into a greenhouse."
While the greenhouse frames have been built, the plastic won't be installed until March, Thong-Umphai said, with the goal of providing plants free to the elderly in the community and to sell in time for Mother's Day.
The project was financed by the Whitley County Community Foundation.
In other business:
• Superintendent Dr. William Worl reported that enrollment is down 75 students from last year at this time. Enrollment for all schools is 1,982 students.
• The PTA will meet Wednesday at Whitko Middle School at 7 p.m. to discuss reorganization and to evaluate how the organization has served the school system over the last five year and how to serve it in the future. The PTA also will discuss school safety concerns and suggestions of parents, teachers, administrators and students.
• The school board's November meeting has been changed from Nov. 15 to Nov. 22.
The board usually meets at 7:30 p.m. in the administration offices on the third Monday of each month.
